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the reverend gentleman； in his desire to know more of Enriquez'
compatriots； would not have objected。 In my confusion I meekly
added my conviction to hers； congratulated him upon his evident
success； and slipped away。 But I was burning with a desire to see
Enriquez and know all。 He was imaginative but not untruthful。
Unfortunately； I learned that he was just then following one of his
erratic impulses； and had gone to a rodeo at his cousin's； in the
foothills； where he was alternately exercising his horsemanship in
catching and breaking wild cattle and delighting his relatives with
his incomparable grasp of the American language and customs； and of
the airs of a young man of fashion。 Then my thoughts recurred to
Miss Mannersley。 Had she really been oblivious that night to
Enriquez' serenade？ I resolved to find out； if I could； without
betraying Enriquez。 Indeed； it was possible； after all； that it
might not have been he。
Chance favored me。 The next evening I was at a party where Miss
Mannersley； by reason of her position and quality； was a
distinguishedI had almost written a popularguest。 But； as I
have formerly stated； although the youthful fair of the Encinal
were flattered by her casual attentions； and secretly admired her
superior style and aristocratic calm； they were more or less uneasy
under the dominance of her intelligence and education； and were
afraid to attempt either confidence or familiarity。 They were also
singularly jealous of her； for although the average young man was
equally afraid of her cleverness and her candor； he was not above
paying a tremulous and timid court to her for its effect upon her
humbler sisters。 This evening she was surrounded by her usual
satellites； including； of course； the local notables and special
guests of distinction。 She had been discussing； I think； the
existence of glaciers on Mount Shasta with a spectacled geologist；
and had participated with charming frankness in a conversation on
anatomy with the local doctor and a learned professor； when she was
asked to take a seat at the piano。 She played with remarkable
skill and wonderful precision； but coldly and brilliantly。 As she
sat there in her subdued but perfectly fitting evening dress； her
regular profile and short but slender neck firmly set upon her high
shoulders； exhaling an atmosphere of refined puritanism and
provocative intelligence； the utter incongruity of Enriquez'
extravagant attentions if ironical； and their equal hopelessness if
not； seemed to me plainer than ever。 What had this well…poised；
coldly observant spinster to do with that quaintly ironic ruffler；
that romantic cynic； that rowdy Don Quixote； that impossible
Enriquez？ Presently she ceased playing。 Her slim； narrow slipper；
revealing her thin ankle； remained upon the pedal； her delicate
fingers were resting idly on the keys； her head was slightly thrown
back； and her narrow eyebrows prettily knit toward the ceiling in
an effort of memory。
〃Something of Chopin's；〃 suggested the geologist； ardently。
〃That exquisite sonata！〃 pleaded the doctor。
〃Suthin' of Rubinstein。 Heard him once；〃 said a gentleman of
Siskiyou。 〃He just made that pianner get up and howl。 Play Rube。〃
She shook her head with parted lips and a slight touch of girlish
coquetry in her manner。 Then her fingers suddenly dropped upon the
keys with a glassy tinkle； there were a few quick pizzicato chords；
down went the low pedal with a monotonous strumming； and she
presently began to hum to herself。 I startedas well I mightfor
I recognized one of Enriquez' favorite and most extravagant guitar
solos。 It was audacious； it was barbaric； it was； I fear； vulgar。
As I remembered itas he sang itit recounted the adventures of
one Don Francisco； a provincial gallant and roisterer of the most
objectionable type。 It had one hundred and four verses； which
Enriquez never spared me。 I shuddered as in a pleasant； quiet
voice the correct Miss Mannersley warbled in musical praise of the
PELLEJO； or wineskin； and a eulogy of the dicebox came caressingly
from her thin red lips。 But the company was far differently
affected： the strange； wild air and wilder accompaniment were
evidently catching； people moved toward the piano； somebody
whistled the air from a distant corner； even the faces of the
geologist and doctor brightened。
〃A tarantella； I presume？〃 blandly suggested the doctor。
Miss Mannersley stopped； and rose carelessly from the piano。 〃It
is a Moorish gypsy song of the fifteenth century；〃 she said dryly。
〃It seemed sorter familiar； too；〃 hesitated one of the young men；
timidly； 〃like as ifdon't you know？you had without knowing it；
don't you know？〃he blushed slightly〃sorter picked it up
somewhere。〃
〃I 'picked it up；' as you call it； in the collection of medieval
manuscripts of the Harvard Library； and copied it；〃 returned Miss
Mannersley coldly as she turned away。
But I was not inclined to let her off so easily。 I presently made
my way to her side。 〃Your uncle was complimentary enough to
consult me as to the meaning of the appearance of a certain
exuberant Spanish visitor at his house the other night。〃 I looked
into her brown eyes； but my own slipped off her velvety pupils
without retaining anything。 Then she reinforced her gaze with a
pince…nez； and said carelessly：
〃Oh； it's you？ How are you？ Well； could you give him any
information？〃
〃Only generally；〃 I returned； still looking into her eyes。 〃These
people are impulsive。 The Spanish blood is a mixture of gold and
quicksilver。〃
She smiled slightly。 〃That reminds me of your volatile friend。 He
was mercurial enough； certainly。 Is he still dancing？〃
〃And singing sometimes；〃 I responded pointedly。 But she only added
casually； 〃A singular creature；〃 without exhibiting the least
consciousness； and drifted away； leaving me none the wiser。 I felt
that Enriquez alone could enlighten me。 I must see him。
I did； but not in the way I expected。 There was a bullfight at San
Antonio the next Saturday afternoon； the usual Sunday performance
being changed in deference to the Sabbatical habits of the
Americans。 An additional attraction was offered in the shape of a
bull…and…bear fight； also a concession to American taste； which had
voted the bullfight 〃slow；〃 and had averred that the bull 〃did not
get a fair show。〃 I am glad that I am able to spare the reader the
usual realistic horrors； for in the Californian performances there
was very little of the brutality that distinguished this function
in the mother country。 The horses were not miserable； worn…out
hacks； but young and alert mustangs； and the display of
horsemanship by the picadors was not only wonderful； but secured an
almost absolute safety to horse and rider。 I never saw a horse
gored； although unskillful riders were sometimes thrown in wheeling
quickly to avoid the bull's charge； they generally regained their
animals without injury。
The Plaza de Toros was reached through the decayed and tile…strewn
outskirts of an old Spanish village。 It was a rudely built oval
amphitheater； with crumbling； whitewashed adobe walls； and roofed
only over portions of the gallery reserved for the provincial
〃notables；〃 but now occupied by a few shopkeepers and their wives；
with a sprinkling of American travelers and ranchmen。 The
impalpable adobe dust of the arena was being whirled into the air
by the strong onset of the afternoon trade winds； which happily；
however； helped also to dissipate a reek of garlic； and the acrid
fumes of cheap tobacco rolled in cornhusk cigarettes。 I was
leaning over the second barrier； waiting for the meager and
circuslike procession to enter with the keys of the bull pen； when
my attention was attracted to a movement in the reserved gallery。
A lady and gentleman of a quality that was evidently unfamiliar to
the rest of the audience were picking their way along the rickety
benches to a front seat。 I recognized the geologist with some
surprise； and the lady he was leading with still greater
astonishment。 For it was Miss Mannersley； in her precise； well…
fitting walking…costumea monotone of sober color among the parti…
colored audience。
However； I was perhaps less surprised than the audience； for I was
not only becoming as accustomed to the young girl's vagaries as I
had been to Enriquez' extravagance； but I was also satisfied that
her uncle might have given her permission to come； as a recognition
of the Sunday concession of the management； as well as to
conciliate his supposed Catholic friends。 I watched her sitting
there until the first bull had entered； and； after a rather brief
play with the picadors and banderilleros； was dispatched。 At the
moment when the matador approached the bull with his lethal weapon
I was not sorry for an excuse to glance at Miss Mannersley。 Her
hands wer